Chhindwara preacher claims ‘miracle blanket’ cures paralysis cancer:Says he never washed it in 50 years; crowds flock to ‘darbar’ of man who never attended school

Location: A lawn in Chandangaon Time: 9 AM The scene outside the lawn was like a religious fair. Crowds of patients and their relatives were gathered all around. Some were on stretchers, while others were lying on the ground. Some were supported by crutches, others by wheelchairs, and some had bandages wrapped around their bodies. This crowd had gathered here to seek treatment from Kambal Wale Baba (The Blanket Baba). This is the same blanket that hasn’t been washed for the past 50 years. There was a large crowd, but almost no noise. It seemed as if everyone was waiting for a miracle. How does Kambal Wale Baba treat people? Does his treatment really cure diseases — as he claims to treat everything from paralysis to cancer? To find out, Dainik Bhaskar’s team reached Baba’s court. Read the report… Blanket Baba treating the patient’s hand When the Bhaskar team reached the lawn, the situation inside was similar to that outside. Patients were sitting on sheets spread across the floor. Some children sat in the laps of their sick mothers, while others supported elderly relatives, keeping them in line. In the middle of the lawn, near the photo of Mother Kali, incense sticks were burning. From loudspeakers placed at various spots, a soft voice played repeatedly — “Everything will be alright…” Arrival of Blanket Baba and the treatment begins It was around 11 AM. Suddenly, there was a stir among the volunteers. On inquiry, it was learnt that Baba was arriving. Within moments, wearing simple white clothes, barefoot, and carrying an old brown blanket, Baba entered. He went straight to the mat laid out on the stage in the middle of the ground. Holding the microphone, he said, “Those who have paralysis should come and sit in the middle line. No relative of any worker should come there.” He continued, “I will start looking from anywhere, so whoever is where, should stay there. No one should rush forward for their turn.” Handing the microphone to a worker, Baba stepped into the crowd with his blanket. He placed the blanket over a patient’s head and then removed it. He grabbed the patient’s hand, shook it, patted their shoulder a few times, and then made them stand. When the patient stood up, people nearby began to clap. Seeing this, others joined in. This process continued continuously — patients stood up, and applause echoed across the pandal. Relatives bring paralysed patients for treatment Case 1 Seventy-six-year-old Anil Malviya, a resident of Parasia, is paralysed. His son and daughter brought him by auto for treatment, hoping Baba’s blanket would heal him. The family had been waiting since morning; by 3 PM, their turn finally came, after Baba returned from lunch. Baba shook Anil’s hand, tapped his shoulder twice, placed his knee against Anil’s knees, and pressed a few spots. He then asked Anil to stand. When he couldn’t, two people nearby helped him up. As Anil began to sit again, a voice came from the loudspeaker: “Those who have been treated, please take the patient and leave.” Hearing this, his son and daughter took Anil outside. As soon as they stepped out, Anil lay down again. They called an auto-rickshaw driver waiting nearby, laid Anil inside, and returned to Parasia. The team asked Anil if he felt any relief. He didn’t respond, but his face showed neither satisfaction nor ease. Case 2 Kalpana Dehriya, a resident of Janta Colony, brought her 67-year-old mother, who suffered severe back pain and a hunched posture. Kalpana’s face lit up when her mother’s turn came within two hours, as many others had been waiting since morning. Baba placed the blanket over her head and then removed it. He hit her back twice, then made her stand. However, she stood just as before — there was no visible relief. The family took her outside. A volunteer then said Baba’s miraculous oil and powder were available at the exit for quick relief. Kalpana went there and found bottles of oil with Baba’s photo priced at ₹649. Ashwagandha powder was also ₹649. Finding it expensive, she paid ₹100 and took a photo of a Shri Yantra instead. When the team asked her mother if she felt better, Kalpana said, “Amma has difficulty hearing. We came with hope, but there’s no visible relief.” Many other patients echoed the same sentiment. After treatment, Baba’s oil is sold to patients CMHO’s team arrives to investigate Information about the unauthorised ‘darbar’ and distribution of medicine reached Chhindwara Collector Harendra Narayan, who immediately sent the CMHO to investigate. CMHO Dr. Naresh Gonnade reached the venue with Kotwali police in the evening. They asked for event documents, inquired about the medicine, and collected samples for testing. One-on-one with the Baba who treats with a 50-year-old blanket Reporter: What is your name? Baba: My name is Ganesh Yadav. I am a resident of Surendranagar, Gujarat. Reporter: When and how did you start treating with the blanket? Baba: I didn’t become a Baba through devotion. When I was four years old, I used to wake up and say, “Bring my blanket, I’ll fix it.” My father used to hit me and make me sleep again. One day he told an acquaintance, who advised taking me to the place I described. My father took me to a Mata Ji’s temple two kilometres away. I kept the blanket with me. Reporter: How did you discover its powers? Baba: A few days later, a paralysed man in our village was cured with this blanket. That’s when I realised it had something special. Reporter: What does your family do? Baba: My father used to graze cows. Even today, my brother does the same. Reporter: Do you have any medical qualification? Baba: I haven’t studied at all. Reporter: If the blanket heals, why sell medicine? Baba: Patients need to come four or five times. To help them recover faster and avoid travel costs, we give medicine and oil. Reporter: Which diseases do you treat? Baba: Every disease related to the human body. Reporter: Who are in your family? Baba: My mother, wife, son, and daughter. My daughter is even more powerful than me, but she’s still studying. Reporter: Since when have you not washed the blanket? ‘Baba: I haven’t washed it since I got it. Reporter: Will washing it reduce its power? Baba: No, not at all. You can smell it — it’s completely clean. Reporter: Was it used during the COVID period? Baba: Yes, I held my programmes then too. I treated people, and no one had any issues. Reporter: What action did the CMHO take? Baba: All hospitals in Chhindwara are empty. Everyone comes to me, so someone complained to the Collector. If my programme doesn’t happen, I won’t lose — Chhindwara will. Baba claimed to cure everything from paralysis to cancer. People from states including Telangana and Rajasthan come for treatment. However, he couldn’t answer how many patients he has actually treated. Cannot sell medicine without medical advice District AYUSH Officer Dr. Pramila Yavatkar said Baba probably prepares and sells herbal powders using traditional methods. However, many herbs — including Ashwagandha — cannot be sold without a doctor’s prescription. She added that there is no official provision for registering any “Vaidya.” Dr. Manan Gogiya stated that medical science doesn’t recognise such treatment methods. Paralysis is primarily caused by blood clots in the brain, often due to high blood pressure or ruptured vessels. Its treatment involves dissolving or removing the clot. “As for the blanket,” he said, “I cannot say whether it can actually heal anyone.” ​